Detachable back rest



March 23, 1954 e. w, FREUND DETACHABLE BACK REST 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledNOV. 14, 1952 INVENTOR. Gecmce W. FREUND March 23, 1954 e. w. FREUNDDETACHABLE BACK REST Filed Nov. 14, .1952

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 6 sense W. F'naum:

Patented Mar. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DETAOHABLE BACK RESTGeorge W. Freund, Monroeville, Ohio Application November 14, 1952,Serial No. 320,381

I This invention relates to portable back rests adapted to be detachablymounted on existing seat structures and more particularly to a back restthat can be quickly mounted on a flat seat, such as a boat or grandstandseat, and quickly detached from the seat, when desired.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved backrest which can be firmly clamped onto a flat seat atone edge of the seatand can be quickly mounted upon and removed from the seat; which isadjustable for seats of different thicknesses and requires nomodification of the seat construction for its application to the seat;which has a flexible back engaging portion and is spring urged towardupright position, so that it can be forced backwardly against the springforcey'which has locking means for positively looking it in uprightposition; and which is simple and durable in construction, economical tomanufacture, easy to apply and comfortable in use, and neat andattractive in appearance.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a considerationof the following description and the appended claims in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a front elevational view of aback rest illustrative of theinvention shown mounted on a flat seat;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on an enlarged scale onthe line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure l is a fragmentary rear elevational view on an enlarged scale;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on an enlarged scale onthe line 5-5 of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on the line 66 of Figure4..

With continued reference to numeral It! indicates a fiat or plank seat,such as a rowboat or grandstand seat. These seats may be of differentwidths and thicknesses and have no backs, so that a person occupyingsuch a seat for an extended period of time is subjected to unnecessaryfatigue. The present invention provides a back rest which is detachablymounted on such a seat to support the back of a person occupying theseat and provide'relaxation rather than undue fatigue.

The back rest comprises a U-shaped frame,

generally indicated at H, preferablyformed of a length of metal'tubingbent to U shapeandthe drawings, the

3 Claims. (01. 155-133) having sockets l2 and is secured one on each endof the tube. The sockets are provided with apertured lugs, as indicatedat l4 and l5, extending from the ends of the sockets remote from the legportions 16 and ll of the frame and a flat bar 18 extends across theopen end of the frame H and outwardly of the sockets l2 and 53. Pairs ofspaced apart apertured lugs, as indicated at l9 and I9, extend upwardlyfrom the bar l8 and the lug H! of the socket I2 is disposed between thelugs I9 and pivotally connected thereto by a pivot bolt 20, while thelug iii of the socket I3 is disposed between the pair of lugs l9 andpivotally connected thereto by a pivot bolt 2|.

A flexible back member 2'2, formed of fabric or other flexible sheetmaterial, is disposed within and secured to the frame II, this backportion preferably having marginal hems respectively receiving the legportions l6 and ll of the frame and a third marginal hem receiving theintermediate portion of the bight portion 23 of the frame.

The bar i8 is of right angular cross sectional shape and has one leg 24adapted to rest upon the top of the seat Ill and from which the lugs l9and I9 extend near one edge of this leg, and a leg 25 dependingperpendicularly from the leg 24 at the other edge of the leg 24 andadapted to contact the rear edge of the seat Hi. Apertured lugs 26 and21 project upwardly from the leg 24 of the bar l8 rearwardly of the lugsi9 and I9 and a rod 28 extends through and is journaled in the lugs 26and 21. A hand lever 29 is provided on one end of the rod 28 anddisposed perpendicularly thereto, and locking arms 30 and 3| projectradially from the rod 28, one opposite each of the frame sockets l2 andI3, and these locking arms so and 3! are engageable at their distal endsin notches provided in the frame socketsto positively hold the frame inits upright position.

A third arm 32 extends radially from the rod 28 and bears against theupper end of a compression spring 33 the lower end of which is supportedon a bracket extension 34 projecting rearwardly from the bar Hi, thisspring acting to resiliently hold the locking arms 30 and 3| inengagement in the notches in the corresponding sockets l2 and I3 andbeing compressible by manual pressure on the hand lever 29 to releasethe locking arms from the frame sockets for rear tilting movements ofthe frame and back assembly.: A curved'spring guide 35 extends throughthe spring 33 and through an aperture in the bracket 34 to which theguide is secured by a nut 36 disposed below the bracket and threadedonto a screw threaded end portion of the guide.

Pairs of apertured lugs 3'! and 38 extend rearwardly from the frame legsl6 and I1 respectively at locations spaced equal distances from thepivot bolts 28 and 2| and a guide rod 40 has at one end an eye formationdisposed between the pair of lugs .31 and pivotally connected thereto bya pivot pin or bolt 4|. This'guide: rod depends from the lugs 37 andextends slidably through an aperture in the bracket 34 and a compressionspring 42 surrounds this guide rod between the bracket 34 and the lugs'351 to resiliently resist rearward tilting movements of the frame andback assembly. A guide" rod 43; similar to the guide rod 40, has at one:end an apertured eye formation disposed between the lugs 38 andpivotally connected thereto by a pivot bolt 44 and this guide rod 43depends from the lugs 38 and extends slidably through; an aperture in abracket: 45 projecting; rearwardly from the bar 3' in alignment with theframe socket l3. A coiled compression spring 46 surrounds the rod 43between the bracket 45 and the lugs 38 and also resiliently resistsbackward tilting movements of the frame and back assembly.

With this arrangement, when the seat and back assembly is released forrearward tilting movement by manual pressure on the hand: lever 29, asexplained above, the frame and back assembly can be forced rearwardly byovercoming the force of the springs 42 and 46.

Tubular sockets 48 and 49 are disposed in upright position at the rearof the bar It adjacent the. brackets 34 and 45 respectively, and arerigidly secured to the leg 25 of the bar l8. An angle bracket 58 has oneleg slidably received in the socket 48 and depending from the lowerendof the socket and a second leg extending forwardly from the lower end ofthe socket received leg and terminating beneath the front portion of theleg 24 of the angle bar l8. A similar angle bracket 5| has one legslidably received in the socket 49 and depending'from the lower end ofthis socket, and a second extending forwardly from the lower end of thesocket received leg and also terminating below the front portion of theleg 24 of the angle bar I 8. Adjusting screws 52 and 5-3- extend throughthe; upper ends of the sockets 48 and 49 respectively, and are engagedat their lower ends with the upper ends of the socket received legsofthe angle brackets and 5| to position the angle brackets at selectedpositions of adjustment relative to thesocket-s 48 and 49..

The legs of the angle brackets 58 and 5|,projecting forwardly from. the.socket. received legs. of these brackets. are bifurcatedtand apertured:near their distal ends and a clamping. lever 154v is disposed betweenthe furca-tions of the angle. bracket 58 and pivotally connected to thisangle bracket at the distal end of the forwardly projecting leg thereofby a pivot pin 55 which. extends through registering apertures in thebracket leg furcations and in the lever 54. A similar lever 56 isdisposed between the furcations of the forwardly projecting leg of theangle bracket 5| and ,pivotally secured to the bracket 5| at the distalend of the forwardly projecting leg thereof by a pivot pin 57 extendingthrough registering apertures in. the bracket leg .furcations and in thelever 56. The levers 5'4 and 56 are provided. above the corresponding,

angle bracket legs with enlarged portions 60 and 6| respectively,preferably of partly circular shape and have longitudinally curvedportions 62 and 63 respectively depending from the lever supportingbracket legs.

A clamping roller 65 extends between the enlarged end portions 68 and BIof the levers 54 and 56 and is journaled at its ends on the enlarged endportions of the levers by arbors 66 and 61 projecting coaxially from thecorresponding ends of" the roller and received in apertures provided inthe enlarged end portions of the levers. A bar 68 extends between thelevers 54 and: 56- and is connected at its ends to these levers at thelower ends of the levers to constitute a handle f'ormoving the leversabout their pivotal connections with the angle brackets 58 and 5| androcking the clamp bar 65 to and away from its seatclamping positionrelative to the bar |8.

The clamping roller 65 is spaced from and substantially parallel tothebar |8 and',,when rocked to a position atwhich the arbors 66 and161"are substantially directly above the corresponding pivot pins 55 and57', it engages the'underv side of the seat H! on which the leg 24- ofthe angle bar l8 rests and. firmly clamps theseat between itself and theangle. bar to mount the back rest on the seat. Stop'members 18 and: Hmountedon the upper edges ofthe forwardly projecting legs of the anglebrackets 58 and 5| respectively, adjacent the pivot pins 55 and 51, areengaged by the enlarged upper end portions .60 and 6| of the levers 56and 54. and stop the rocking movements of these levers at the positionin which the clamping roller 65 is in its most effective clampingposition relative to the angle bar m, as explained above.

The angle brackets 58 and 5| are moved inwardly and outwardly of the:corresponding. sockets 48 and49by the screws 52 and 5-3 to adjustably'position the clamp roller :65 relative to the leg 24 of the angle bar I8to: compensate for variations in thethickness of the 'seatto which theback rest applied.

With this arrangement, the detachable back rest can be quickly mountedona.- fiat seat and can be locked in upright position by the arms 30 and3| or released for backward tilting'movement against the force of thecompressionisprings- 4-2 and 46, and can be quickly released and removedfrom the seat, when desired.

The invention may' be embodied inother snecific forms without departingfrom the spirit. or essential characteristics thereof. The present.

- embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive; the.

scope of the invention being indicated. by the appended claims ratherthan by the. foregoing description, and all changes which come withinthe meaning and range of equivalency .Of: the

claims are, therefore, intended-.tcbe embraced.

therein.

What is claimed. is: l. A. back rest detachably mountedv on .a flat seatcomprising a frame, a back disposed within. said frame and securedthereto, .a ba-r extending across one end of said frame and adapted-torest on a seat, means pivotally connecting said frame:

to said bar for backward tilting movement of said frame relative to saidbar, spring means-connected to said bar and said frame resiliently re--backward tilting movement of said framesisting relative to said bar,manually operable clamping means carriedi by said bar and adapted. to"engage the. under side of aseat. onwhijch .saidbar rests to detachablyclamp the back rest to the seat, said clamping means comprising anglebrackets connected to said bar at spaced apart locations therealong andhaving legs movable toward and away from said bar, levers pivotallymounted intermediate their length on said angle bracket legs, a seatengaging roller extending between and rotatably supported in said leversbetween said angle bracket legs and said bar, and hand operable meansspaced from said roller and connected to said levers for swinging saidlevers about said pivotal connections with said angle brackets andmoving said roller toward and away from said bar, and stop means on saidangle bracket legs and engageable with the portions of said leversadjacent said roller for stopping the swinging movements of said leverswhen said roller is in its effective clamping position relative to saidbar.

2. A back rest detachably mounted on a flat seat comprising a frame, aback disposed within said frame and secured thereto, a bar extendingacross one end of said frame and adapted to rest on a seat, meanspivotally connecting said frame to said bar for backward tiltingmovement of said frame relative to said bar, spring means connected tosaid bar and said frame resiliently resisting backward tilting movementof said frame relative to said bar, manually operable clamping meanscarried by said bar and adapted toengage the under side of a seat onwhich said bar rests to detachably clamp the back rest to the seat, saidclamping means comprising angle brackets connected to said bar at spacedapart locations therealong and having legs movable toward and away fromsaid bar, levers pivotally mounted intermediate their length on saidangle bracket legs, a seat engaging roller extending between androtatably supported in said levers between said angle bracket legs andsaid bar, and hand operable means spaced from :said roller and connectedto said levers for swinging said levers about said pivotal connectionswith said angle brackets and moving said roller toward and away fromsaid bar, and manually releasable locking means interposed between saidbar and said frame positively locking said frame against backwardtilting movement relative to said bar.

3. A back rest detachably mounted on a flat seat comprising a frame, aback disposed within said frame and secured thereto, a bar extendingacross one end of said frame and adapted to rest on a seat, meanspivotally connecting said frame to said bar for backward tiltingmovement of said frame relative to said bar, spring means connected tosaid bar and said frame resiliently resisting backward tilting movementof said frame relative to said bar, and manually operable clamping meanscarried by said bar and adapted to engage the under side of a seat onwhich said bar rests to detachably clamp the back rest to the seat, saidclamping means comprising angle brackets adjustably connected to saidbar at spaced apart locations therealong and having legs adjustablymovable toward and away from said bar, levers pivotally mountedintermediate their length on said angle bracket legs, a seat engagingroller extending between and journaled at its ends on said leversbetween said angle bracket legs and said bar, and a bar extendingbetween and connected at its ends to said levers *at locations spacedfrom said angle bracket legs in a direction away from the firstmentioned bar and constituting a handle for swinging said levers aboutsaid pivotal connections with said angle brackets and moving said rollertoward and away from said first mentioned bar.

GEORGE W. FREUND.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,279,229 Bilan Sept. 17, 1918 1,511,704 Buck Oct. 14, 19241,749,491 Kokay Mar. 4, 1930 1,852,012 Hose Apr. 5, 1932 1,980,748 DiBella Nov. 13, 1934 2,152,014 Ashe et a1 Mar. 28, 1939 2,508,769 Osbonet al. May 23, 1950 2,642,124 Slowey et a1. June 16, 1953

